Leaf-opener for filler-stripping machines



w June 27, 1933. R. E. RUNDELL Er AL 1,916,018

LEAF OPENER FOR FILLER-STRIPPING MACHINES June 27, 1933. R. E. RUNDELLEr A1. 1,916,018

LEAF OPENER Foa FILLsR-STRIPPING MACHINES Filed May 24, -1932 4Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 3l /QQ June 27, 1933.

R. E. RUNDELL El' AL LEAF OPENER FOR .FILLER-STRIPPING MACHINES FiledMay 24, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 S Y S June 27, 1933. R. E. RUNDELL ET A1.

LEAF OPENER FOR FILLER-STRIPPING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 27, 1933 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICERUPERT E. RUNDELL, OF ROCKVILLE CENTER, AND GUSTAF E. HAGQUIST, OFBROOK- LYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERYCOMPANY,

A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY LEAF-OPENER FOR FILLER-STRIIPPING MACHINESApplication ined May a4,

This invention relates to leaf openers for filler stripping or leafstemming machines, its main object being to provide means for opening orspreading out tobacco leaves used for cigar fillers while the same arebeing fed to a stemming machine for the removal of their stems. Thetobacco leaves before being stemmed are in a more or less curledup orcrumpled condition and have to be untwisted and spread out before theyare delivered to the stemming machine.

In the present invention, this object is achieved by feeding the leavesin spaced intervals crosswise, by means of a spacing chain, on a numberof endless conveyor belts to a point on a table at which the butt end ofthe leaf is raised out of the spacing chain, gripped by one of a numberof grippers supported across a pair of endless chains, and carriedlengthwise olf the table into a leaf opener unit into which the leaf isguided by suitable guide rollers and in which its two halves are pulledby suction between pairs of corrugated wheels aligned in the directionof the traveling leaf at both sides 0f the stem thereof, the combinationof the suction and the rolling action of the said wheels gently openingthe leaf. From the opener unit, the gripper carries the opened leaf overan endless conveyor onto a cam-operated trap which opens after the leafhas been clamped by a cam-operated roller and the gripper has releasedthe same, whereupon the leaf drops onto an inclined conveyor belt at alower level on which it is carried to a pair of parallel vertical beltswhich deliver it to the stemming machine of the type described in thecopending application of Rupert E. Rundell et al., S. N. 516,789, ledFeb. 19, 1931. With this and other objects not specifically mentioned inview, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinationshereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or 50 likeparts:

1932. Serial No. 613,318.

l is a front elevation of the improved leaf opener;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top View of the delivery end of the feed table andleaf-spacing chain, seen from line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation'of the leaf opener, on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view of the leaf opener unit taken on line4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view on line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation on line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged top view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top view of the leaf trap and delivery conveyor,taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 3 and Figs. 10 and 11 are end elevations ofone of the leaf grippers, taken on lines 10 10 and 11 11 respectively,showing the gripper in its closed and opened position.

In carrying the invention into eifect there is provided means forfeeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, a leaf lifter forraising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leaf opener unit forspreading out the leaves, means for forwarding the leaves to a stemmingmachine, and mechanism for seizing the butt end of the leaf raised bysaid leaf lifter and carrying it through said opener unit andtransferring it to said leaf forwarding means, whereby the leaves arespread out while being carried by said mechanism. In the best forms ofconstruction contemplated, the leaf feeding means includes an endlesschain pro vided with pockets adapted to receive the stem ends of thetobacco leaves to space the same, and the leaf lifter includes areciprocating wedge shaped block. In the best form of construction,also, the leaf opener unit includes suction chambers through which theleaves are carried by said mechanism and pairs of corrugated rollersmounted in said chambers on opposite sides of the path of the stems ofthe leaves carried by said mechanism and rotating in a directionopposite to the movement of the leaves, and the means for forwarding theleaves to a stemming machine includes a downwardly movin conveyor belt,and said mechanism inclu es upwardly moving inclined endless chains,crossbars connectin said chains, grip er fingers 5 pivoted on saicross-bars, means or causin Asaid fingers to grip the stem of a leafraise by said lifter, means for causing said fingers to release the leafwhen it is in position to be delivered to said conveyor belt, and meansfor momentarily pressing the leaf against said conveyor at the momentthe leaf is released by said fingers. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention there is further provided means for untwisting and guiding theleaves while they are bein carried by said mechanism from said li r tosaid leaf opener unit including a guide roller having a horizontal axisand arranged at the entrance of said unit, a guide fin er forv pressingthe leaf on said guide roller, and a pair of relatively yieldablerollers disposed behind said guide roller on vertical axes. Thesevarious means and parts may be widely varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular machine selected to illustratethe invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specificconstruction shown and described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the leaf opener consists of a frame 12which supports a table 13 and, on an upwardly inclined portion, a pairof endless chains 14 carrying s''grippers, as hereinafter described, andrunning at right angles to the long dimension of the table from one endthereof. At spaced distances on table 13 run a number o f endless belts15 which are guided by pulleys 16 "on shafts 17 and 18 supported byframe 12 and driven through a bevel gear 19 on shaft 18 by a bevel gear20 on shaft 21. Shafts 17 and 18, near the inward edge of table 13, alsocarry sprockets 22 over which runs an fendless chain 23 provided withprojecting inserts 24 to form pockets for spacing the leaves, theinserts 24 being pivoted at one end on one link and fitting into thealternate links at the other ends. Shaft 21 is supported by bearings offrame 12 and has a sprocket 25 driven by a chain 26 from a sprocket 27on drive shaft 28. Another sprocket 29 on shaft 21, by means of a chain30, drives a sprocket 31 on a countershaft 32 which through gears 33 and34 imparts motion to a cam shaft 35. The drive shaft 28 has a sprocket36 driven by a chain 37 from a sprocket 38 on the shaft of a motor 39. Asprocket 40 on shaft 28 1s connected by a chain 41 with a sprocket 42 onshaft 43 on which the drive sprockets 44 of the endless chains 14 aremounted, these chains running over sprockets 45 on shaft 46 and carryingbetween them, at spaced intervals, a number of grippers 47. T e chains14 are kept taut b tightener sprockets 48 carried by adjustabile arms 49turnable on studs in frame 12.

A gear 50 on shaft 28 meshes with a gear 51 on a countershaft 52 whichby a sprocket 53 and a chain 54 drives a sprocket 55 on a shaft 56 onwhich is mounted a roller 57 driving belts 58 running over rollers 59,60 and 61. A sub-frame 62 attached to mai'n frame 12 supports shafts 63carrying rollers 64 over which runs a conveyor belt 65 driven by asprocket 66 connected by a chain 67 with a sprocket 68 on shaft 46.Another shaft 69 supported by sub-frame 62 carries a roller 70 overwhich runs a vertical endless belt 71 guided by rollers72-and 73 turningon shafts supported in brackets of frame 12, the shaft 69 being drivenby gears 74 from shaft 56.

On the table portion of frame 12 are supported a cam-operated leaflifter 75 for raising the butt end of the leaf off the spacing chain 23,and a cam-operated'guide finger 76 for leading the leaf into the openerunit 77'; and on the upwardly inclined portion of frame 12, in additionto the parts already described, are mounted the leaf opener unit 77, campieces 78 for opening the leaf grippers to receive the leaves, acam-operated trap 79 for transferring the opened leaf from the upwardlymoving belts 58 to the downwardly moving belts 65, a cam operatedpresser 8O for temporarily holding the leaf While being transferred andcam pieces 81 for opening the gripper to release the leaf after itstransfer.

The leaves L, Fig. 2, are laid by the operator upon the belts 15 ontable 13, their stem ends being placed in the pockets formed on thespacer chain 23 by the inserts 24. The latter consist of pairs ofconverging wooden blocks 24, each pair, except when opened in turningaround the sprockets, bridging a number of links of chain 23 and leavinga free link between it and the next pair. The leaves are carried by thebelts 15 and the chain 23 in the direction of the arrows shown and whenthey arrive at the center line of the upright portion of frame 12, arelifted out of the spacer chain openings by the leaf lifter 75 and aregripped by one of the grippers,47 which then is in engagement with thecam pieces 78. The leaf lifter 75, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a wedge shapedblock inserted into an opening provided in table 13 and fastened to arod 82 guided in a bearing 83 of frame 12. The rod 82 is attached to aslotted bar 84 guided by shaft 35 and carries a roller 85 held inengagement with a cam 86 on shaft 35 by means of a spring 87. Thegrippers 47, Figs. 10 and 11, consist of corrugated fingers attached tolevers 88 mounted on pivots 89 in cross-bars 90 carried at equalintervals by the chains 14. The levers 88 are held in tension againststop pins 91 by a compression spring 92 and at their outer ends carryrollers 93. The cams 78 and 81, Figs.

' lever 94 fulcrumed on a shaft 95 supported 10 spring 92 forces thelevers 88 back, either against the stem of leaf L in case of cams 78, oragainst the stops 91, in case of cams 81.

The newly gripped leaf L is carried by the gripper 47 in the directionof the doubleheaded arrow shown in Fig. 2 into the leaf opener unit 77,being guided thereinto by the guide linger or rod 76, Figs. 1 and 3,which is provided with a horizontal and a bent vertical portion, thelatter being adjustably attached to one arm of a bell-crank by bracket96 of frame 12. The other arm 97 of lever 94 carries a tension spring 98anchored to frame 12 and has pivoted to it a connecting rod 99 theslotted end of which is guided by cam shaft 35. A roller 100 carried byrod 99 is held by the spring 98 in engagement with a cam 101 on shaft35. When the low spot of cam 101 engages with roller 100, the spring 98depresses lever 94 and thereby causes the horizontal portion of rod 7 6to press the leaf against a horizontal roller 102 which guides the leafinto the opener unit 77 and thereby untwists the leaf while it is beingdrawn into @the opener unit.

The leaf opener unit, Figs. 4 to 7 consists of chambers 77 having theirbottoms abutting each other and connected by pipes 103 and 104 to asuitable suction pump or exhaust fan, not shown, and arranged ininclined positions with respect to each other at both sides of thecenter of the assing leaf L so as to form an opening fior the entranceof the gripper and stem. In each of the chambers 77 revolve a number ofpairs of radially corrugated coaxial wheels 105 aligned in the directionof the traveling leaf, the wheels of each pair facing each other with aspace for the leaf between them. By means of these radial corrugationsthe leaf is undulated while it travels between the wheels and therebycaused to permanently retain its outspread condition. In Fig. 4, one ofthe upper wheels, with its lower face turned up, is shown at 105', andone of the lower wheels, with the upper wheel removed, is shown at 105".The wheels 105 are mounted on shafts 106 supported in upper and lowerhousings 107, 107 carried by the walls of chambers 77. Spiral gears 108on shafts 106 mesh with 'spiral gears 109 on shafts 110 on which aremounted gears 111 meshing with gears 112 on shafts 113 projecting intoend housings 114 in which they carry bevel gears 115 mesh- 95 ing withbevel gears 116 on shafts 117. The

ends of shafts 117 protruding from the end housings 114 have bevel gears118 meshing with bevel gear 119 on a shaft 120 supported by brackets 121of housings 114, the shaft 120 carrying a pulley 122 driven by a belt123v from a pulley 124 on drive shaft 28. Hinges 125 in alignment withthe shafts 113 permit the top housings 107 to be lifted olf the bottomhousings 107 for inspection and cleaning of the wheels 105. The leaves Lare guided into the chambers 77 by the horizontal roller 102 carried bya bracket 126 attached across the ends of housings 107', and by a pairof vertical rollers 127, provided with a circumferential recess adaptedto receive and guide the stem of the leaf, and turning on arms 128pivoted on a cross-rib of bracket 126 and held against one another oragainst the entering leaf by compression springs 129 embedded into thesides of bracket 126 when the lingers 47 engage the rollers 126 the arms128 yield to permit the passage of the fingers 47. After the latter havecleared the rollers 126 the arms 128 swing back and press rollers 126against the leaf. The fingers 47 then draw the leaf into the chambers 77where it is spread out by the suction and nndulated by the wheels 105.The combined action of the suction and wheels, furthermore, thoroughlycleans the leaf. On emerging from the chambers 77, the leaf is guidedbetween rollers 130 turning on studs 131 in the walls of the chambers 77the chambers terminating in surfaces 132 converging toward the emergingleaf so that the suction in the ends of the chambers, which is in thedirection of the arrows shown in Figs. 4 and 5, prevents the leavesopened by the rolling action of the wheels 105 from curling up.

The outspread leaf L emerging from the leaf opener 77 is carried by theupwardly moving endless belts 58 onto the leaf transfer shown in Fig. 9.The latter consists of a pair of inclined horizontal plates 79 restingon projecting ledges 133 of subframe 62 and pivoted on vertical studs134 attached to a cross-web 135 of subframe 62, and of a pair of curved.angle pieces 136 pivoted on studs 137 in web 135. Studs 138 attached toplates 79 and passing through slots of angles 136 are connected by rods139 to crank levers 140 on shaft 141 of roller 59, Fig. 8, the shaft 141having a crank arm 142 tensioned by a spring 143 attached to frame 12and connected by a rod 144 to one arm of a bell crank lever 145 pivotedon frame 12, the other arm of which is connected by a rod 146 to a lever147 having a roller 148 in engagement with a cam 149 on shaft 35. Whenthe high point of cam 149 raises the roller 148, the rods 139 pull theplates 79 and angles 136 into the dotted positions 7 9 and 136 shown inFig. 9, so that the leaf, which then is hanging from the gripper 47 inthe position L', is raked by the angles 136 into the opening between theplates 79.

As the leaf then advances, the roller 80 descends, pressing the leafagainst the downmoving conveyor belt at the moment the rollers 93 ofgripper 47 engage with the cam pieces 81, the belt 65 at this pointpassing over a supporting cross-piece '150 carried by frame 62..Immediately thereafter, the rollers 93 are raised by running up theinclines of cams 81, as shown in Fig. 11, and the roller 80 is liftedinto its rest position 80, so that the leaf is free on conveyor 65.

The roller 8O is supported by a bent rod 151 attached to a shaft 152turning ina bearing of frame 12 and having a crank arm 153 tensioned bya spring 154 and connected-by a rod 155 to a second bell crank lever 156pivoted on frame 12 and actuated by a rod 157 from a lever 158 pivotedon frame 12 and having a roller 156 in engagement with a cam 160 onshaft 35.

The opened leaf delivered to conveyor belt 65 through the trap 79 iscarried over roller 70, Fig. 3, on shaft 69 in between the vertical belt71 and the down-going portion of conveyor belts 58 and then is carriedby the belts 71 and 161 into the stripping machine. The belt 16, whichis placed in the space between the conveyor belts 58 on roller 61, runsfrom the latter, which turns on a shaft 162 supported by frame 12 on alevel with the shaft of roller 72 and which is driven by the belts 58,to a roller 163 on a level with roller 73 of belt 71, so that the openedleaf, on reaching the space between rollers 73 and 163, issimultaneously discharged by both belts 71 and 161.

The leaf, which has been opened from the butt to take the twist out andstraighten ropy leaves, as it travels tip first in the grip of the belts161 is subjected to a second leaf opening and spreading operation as itpasses through the suction spreader 164. The opener is connected to thesuction pipe 104 through a ppe 165. This opener holds the leaf open asit passes to the stemming position at the lower end of the belts 161.The tip first opening unit and associated conveying mechanism is shownsomewhat diagrammatically. Reference is made to U. S. patent applicationNo. 516,789 to Rupert E. Rundell for a full disclosure of the completeunit and an associated stripping mechanism.

What is claimedis:

1. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizing thebutt end of the leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it to said leaf forwarding means,

end of a leaf on said means, a leaf opener unit for s reading out theleaves, means for forwarding the leaves tip first to a stemming machine,and mechanism for seizing the butt end of the leaf raised by said leaflifter and carrying it through said opener unit and.

transferring it to said leaf forwarding means, whereby the leaves arespread out while being carried by said mechanism, said leaf feedingmeans including a table, endless belts running over said table, and anendless chain running along one side of said table and provided withpockets adapted to receive the stem ends of the tobacco leaves t0 spacethe same.

3. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end'of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizin thebutt und of the leaf raised by said leaf Iifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it to said leaf forwarding means,whereby the leaves are spread out while being carried by said mechanism,said leaf lifter including a wedge shaped block and means forreciprocating said block.

4. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizing thebutt end of the leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it, to said leaf forwarding means,whereby the leaves are spread out while being carried by said mechanism,said mechanism including a pair of endless chains, cross-bars connectingsaid chains, a pair of tensioned gripper fingers pivoted on each of saidcrossbars, and cam pieces for causing said fingers to grip the stems ofthe leaves raised by saidI lifter and then to release said stems afterthe leaves have emerged from said leaf opener unit.

5. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stem-- faoV end of the leaf raisedby said leaf lifter and vcarrying it through said opener unit andtransferring it to said leaf forwarding means, whereby the leaves arespread out while being carried by said mechanism, said leaf opener unitincluding suction chambers through which the leaves are carried by saidmechanism and pairs of corrugated wheels mounted in said chambers onopposite sides of the path of the stems of the leaves carried by saidmechanism, and rotating in a direction opposite to the movement of theleaves to undulate them while they are carried through said chambers bysaid mechanism.

6. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizing thebutt end of the leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it to said leaf forwarding means,whereby the leaves are spread out while being carried by said mechanism,and means for untwisting and guiding the leaves while they are beingcarried by said mechanism from said lifter to said leaf opener unit.

7. In a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizing thebutt end of the leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it to said leaf forwarding means,whereby the leaves are spread out while being carried by said mechanism,and means for untwisting and guiding a leaf while it is being carriedfrom said lifter by said mechanism to said leaf opener unit, said leafuntwisting means including a guide roller having a horizontal axis vandarranged at the entrance of said unit, a guide finger for pressing theleaf on said guide roller, and a pair of relatively yieldable rollersdisposed behind said guide roller on vertical aXes.

8. 1n a leaf opener for tobacco leaf stemming machines, the combinationwith means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise in spaced relation, of aleaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leafopener unit for spreading out the leaves, means for forwarding theleaves tip first to a stemming machine, and mechanism for seizing thebutt end of the leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit and transferring it to said leaf forwarding means,whereby the leaves are spread out while being carried by said mechanism,said means for forwarding the leaves to a stemming machine including adownwardly moving inclined conveyor belt, and said mechanism includingupwardly moving 'inclined endless chains, cross-bars connecting saidchains, gripper fingers pivoted on said ,cross-bars, means for causingsaid fingers to grip the stem of a leaf raised by said lifter, means forcausing said fingers to lrelease the leaf when it is in position to bedelivered to said conveyor belt, and means for momentarily pressing theleaf against said conveyor at the moment the leaf is released by saidfingers.

9. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise inspaced relation, of a leaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf onsaid means, a leaf opener unit for spreading out the leaves, andmechanism for seizing the butt end of the leaf raised by said lifter andcarrying it through said opener unit, whereby the leaves are spread outin said opener unit.

10. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise inspaced relation, of a leaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf onsaid means, a leaf opener unit for spreading out the leaves, mechanismfor seizing the butt end of the leaf raised by said lifter and carryingit through said opener unit, whereby the leaves are spread out in saidopener unit, and means for untwisting and guiding a leaf while it isbeing carried by said mechanism from said lifter to said opener unit.

11. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves, of a leaflifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leaf openerunit for spreading out the leaves, and gripper mechanism for seizing thebutt end of a leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit, whereby the leaves are spread out in said leaf openerunit.

12. The combination with means for feedingtobacco leaves, of a leaflifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on said means, a leaf openerunit for spreading out the leaves, gripper mechanism for seizing thebutt end of a leaf raised by said leaf lifter and carrying it throughsaid opener unit, whereby the leaves are spread out in said leaf openerunit, and means for untwisting and guiding a leaf while it is beingcarried by said mechanism from said lifter to said gripper mechanism.

13. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise, ofa reciprocating leaf lifter for raising the butt end of -a leaf on saidmeans, and mechanism for reciprocating said lifter.

14. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves crosswise, ofa reciprocating leaf lifter for raising the butt end of a leaf on saidmeans, and mechanism for reciprocating said lifter said means includinga table, endless belts running over said table, and an endless chainrunnino along one side of said table and providedj with pockets adaptedto receive the stem ends of the leaves to space the same.

15. The combination with a reciprocating leaf lifter for raising thebutt end of tobacco leaves, of gripper mechanism for seizin the butt endof the leaves raised by said ifter and transferring the leaves, and adevice for reciprocating said leaf lifter.

16. The combination with a reciprocating leaf lifter for raising thebutt end of tobacco leaves, of gripper mechanism for seizing the buttend of the leaves, raised by said lifter and transferring 'the leavesand a device for reciprocating said leaf lifter, said mechanismincluding a pair of endless chains, crossbars connecting said chains,tensioned gripper fingers pivoted on said bars, and means for causingsaid fingers to grip and then release the stem of a leaf.

17. The combination with a leaf opener unit for spreading out curledtobacco leaves, of gri per mechanism for seizing the butt end on y oftobacco leaves and carrying them through said unit, said unit includingsuction chambers and pairs of spaced corrugated wheels in said chamberadapted to undulate the leaf while it is carried through said chambersby said mechanism.

18. The combination with a leaf opener unit including suction means forspreading out curled leaves, of gripper mechanism for seizing the buttend only of tobacco leaves and carryin them through said unit, wherebythe curle leaves are spread out While they are carried through saidunit, said mechanism including a pair of endless chains, crossbarsconnecting said chains, tensioned gripper fingers pivoted on said bars,and means for causing said fingers to grip the stem of a tobacco leafand carry it through said opener unit, and means for causing saidfingers to release the leaf after it leaves said unit.

19. The combination with gripper mechanism for carrying a tobacco leaf,of means for untwisting and guiding a leaf while it is` carried y saidmechanism, said means including a guide roller, and a guide finger forpressing t e leaf on said roller` to untwist it.

20. The combination with gripper mechanism for carrying a tobacco leaf,of means for untwisting and guiding a leaf while it is carried by saidmechanism, said means including a guide roller having a horizontal axis,a pair of relatively yieldable rollers disposed behind said guide rolleron vertically inclined axes and provided with a circumferential recessadapted to receive and guide the stem of the leaf, and a guide fingerfor pressing the leaf on said guide roller to untwist it.

21. The combination with means for forwarding a tobacco leaf to astemming machine, of gripper mechanism for carrying leaves to saidmeans, said gripper mechanism including a pair of endless chains,crossbars connecting said chains, a pair of tensioned ygripper fingerspivoted on each of said cross-bars, and cam pieces actuating saidlingers to grip the stem of a tobacco leaf and carry it to said meansand then release it thereon.

22. The combination with traveling gripper mechanism for seizing thebutt end of a tobacco leaf and carrying the same, of means traveling inan opposite direction for forwarding leaves tip iirst to a stemmingmachine, oscillating plates overlying said means, oscillating anglepieces overlying said plates, means for oscillating said plates andangle pieces to separate said plates when a leaf is carried thereon bysaid mechanism and to cause said angle pieces to rake the leaf into theopening between the separated plates, and a device for momentarilypressing the leaf on said leaf forwarding means at the moment it isreleased by said gripper mechanism.

23. A leaf lifter for raising the butt end of tobacco leaves, comprisinga wedge shaped block having its upper face inclined downwardly, andmeans for reciprocating said block.

24. Gripper mechanism for seizing the butt end of tobacco leaves andcarrying the same, comprising a pair of endless chains, crossbars havingtheir ends fixed on said chains, tensioned gripper fingers pivoted onsaid cross-bars, stationary cam pieces for causing said lingers to gripthe stem of a leaf, and stationary cam pieces for causing said fingersto release the gripped leaves.

25. A leaf opener unit comprising oppositely disposed suction chambers,and pairs of spaced corrugated wheels mounted in said chambers andcooperating with said chambers to spread out leaves pulled between saidrollers.

26. The combination with travelling gripper mechanism for seizing thebutt end of a tobacco leaf and carrying the same, of a belt travellingin a direction opposite to the movement of said gripper mechanism forforwarding the tobacco leaves tip first, means for producing travellingmovement of said belts, means for causing said gripper mechanism to gripthe butt end of a tobacco leaf and thereafter release it on said belt,and a device for momentarily pressing the leaf on said belt at themoment it is released by said gripper mechanism.

27. The combination with travelling gripper mechanism for seizing thebutt end of a tobacco leaf and carrying the same, of means travelling inan opposite direction for for- Warding the tobacco leaves tip first to astemming machine, oscillating plates overlying sad meansoscil latingangle pieces overlying said plates, and means for oscillating saidplates and angle pieces t-o separate said plates when a leaf is carriedthereon by said mechanism and to cause said angle pieces to rake theleaf into the opening between the separated plates. y

28. Means for feeding tobacco leaves comprising an endless conveyor,grippers on said conveyor for gripping the butt end of a leaf andcarrying the leaf butt end foremost, means for operating the grippers ata certain position in their travel to release the leaf, a leaf engagingelement located above the leaf near said position and normally out ofoperative engagement with the leaf, and means giving said element adownward movement to strip the leaf from the grippers in timed relationto the operation of said grippers.

29. Means for feeding tobacco leaves, coma@ prising an endless conveyor,releasable grippers on said conveyor for gripping the stem of a leaf toforward the same, a leaf engaging element located above the leaf,anoppositely travelling conveyor under said first mentioned conveyor andmeans operating said element to press the leaf against said oppositelymoving conveyor.

30. Means for feeding tobacco leaves comprising an endless conveyor,grippers on 3o said conveyor for gripping the stem of a leaf andforwarding the same, means for operating the grippers at a certainposition in their travel to release the leaf, a leaf engaging elementlocated adjacent the leaf near said position and normally out ofoperative engagement with the leaf, and means giving said elementmovement to strip the leaf from the grippers in timed relation to theoperation f of said grippers.

31. The combination with travelling mechanism for carrying a tobaccoleaf, of means under said mechanism travelling in an opposite directionfor forwarding leaves received from said mechanism, means coactin'g withsaid travelling mechanism -to cause the same to successively depositleaves on said travelling means, and mechanism for interposing a platebetween said gripper mechanism and said travelling means after a leafhas been deposited to prevent interference L between the oppositelytravelling leaves carried by said mechanism and said means. 32. Thecombination with travelling gripper mechanism for seizing the stem of ato- 5 for opening the leaves as bacco leaf and carrying same, of meansunder said mechanism travelling in an opposite direction for forwardingtobacco leaves received from said gripper mechanism, means operatingsaid gripper mechanism to release a leaf and drop the same on saidtravelling means, and mechanism for interposing a plate between saidgripper mechanism and said travelling means after a leaf has beendeposited to prevent interference between oppositely travelling leavescarried by said mechanism and said means.

33. In a tobacco leaf opening device, the Combination with mechanism foropening leaves from tip to butt, of mechanism for opening leaves frombutt to tip, and feeding means connected to said mechanisms to forwardleaves successively through first one Aand then the other of saidmechanisms.

34. In a tobacco leaf opening device, the combination with mechanism foropening leaves from tip to butt, of mechanism for opening leaves frombutt to tip, and feeding means connected to said mechanisms to forwardleaves successively through first one and then the other of saidmechanisms, said means including devices for reversing the direction ofmovement of the leaf between said mechanisms.

35. The-combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves butt foremost,of devices for opening the leaves from the butt as theyare fed by said'means and mechanism for receiving the leaves from said means andforwarding them tip foremost.

36. The combination with means for feeding vtobacco leaves buttforemost, of devices or opening the leaves from the butt as they are fedby said means, mechanism for receiving the leaves from said means andforwarding them tip foremost, and means for opening the leaves from thetip as they are forwarded by said mechanism.

37. The combination with means for feeding tobacco leaves butt foremost,of means said means, and mechanism receiving the leaves from said meansand feeding them tip foremost to stripping position.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

RUPERT RUNDELL. GUsrAr E. HAGQUIST.

they are fed by

